Gidday all,

 

From Cethena to St. Helens.

After a drive back to the coast along the winding mountainous roads, we spent a couple of days stocking up on supplies and considering our next move.

Having enjoyed the solitude of the last week, we contacted another Tassie friend and he said we were welcome to camp up on his empty block on the river just out of Forth.

 

 The holidays were over and most were preparing for back to school and work, which meant less crowded roads and camp spots. Maybe a good time to move to another favourite spot over on the east coast. So, on the road again. First leg of the journey took us to Evendale, a sweet little village just south of Launceston. You can overnight in the local park, a wonderful little place. They hold an annual penny farthing race in the town, haven’t seen it yet but it would be interesting.

Heading north east past Launceston and into the ranges along more winding mountainous roads, passed through Scottsdale where we stopped for a pie and look through the local thrift shop where we picked up a warm hoodie and got the usual comment that it was summer, but we are used to that. Then on to Branxholm and Derby. Turning north a little further on and on to Gladstone, then to the northern tip.

Despite the holidays being over there was a couple of campers at our spot. We found an out of the way part and parked up. The weather was not particularly kind to us the next few days, Intermittent drizzle and blowing winds, which isn’t surprising as there is a wind farm not far away. Usually it’s nice there. Stuck it out for another few days then decided to move on.

 Back to the highway, really a narrow winding two lane road, onward to Pyengana and camped at the recreation grounds there. Main reason for going there was it had showers, an anticipated luxury compared to the usual bucket bath.

While there we had a lunch at the Pub in the Paddock down the road. It has a resident, beer swilling pig, and you can buy him a beer, which is watered down leftovers. After our rejuvenating showers and tasty pub lunch we move on towards St. Helens.

 

 

 

 

When in town we found the Laundromat and scouted about town as our cloths washed. After smoko at a local café we filled the water tanks and headed for a campground on the coast not far away near Binalong bay.A bit windy and overcast for the first couple of days but then it calmed down and the sun came out and with it the local wildlife. We were visited by some wallabies, and a number of birds. Also one night I was woken by a noise and when I shone the torch into the kitchen area, saw a possum picking through the rubbish bag. With a few well-chosen words I convinced it to leave and promptly shut the door.

The time had come to choose the next destination, with the motto of don’t be afraid to give it a go, and our adventurous spirit, we set our sights on Flinders Island, besides we haven’t been there before.